To understand how many letters of support you need to submit, start by identifying who you are working with and whether they are considered partners or collaborators as per the definitions on page 10 of the Request for Applications. (See page 7 for additional information on partners and collaborators.)
Any individual or entity named as a partner must submit a letter of support. This letter must demonstrate the partner understands their role regarding decision-making and management of the project. If the farmers are partners on the project and will assist with decision-making and project management, each farm business named as a partner must submit a letter of support.
Collaborators are not required to submit letters of support unless there aren’t any socially disadvantaged and emerging farmers included as project partners. If that is the case, then you must include one letter of support from a socially disadvantaged and emerging farmer who you are intending to source food from as a part of the project. An example of a collaborator would be a farmer who is supplying food for a project but not involved in decision-making or project management.
In addition, if you are planning to source more than $10,000 of product from any one farm, that farm would have to submit a letter of support.
To understand how many letters of support you need to submit, start by identifying who you are working with and whether they are considered partners or collaborators as per the definitions on page 10 of the Request for Applications. (See page 7 for additional information on partners and collaborators.)
Any individual or entity named as a partner must submit a letter of support. This letter must demonstrate the partner understands their role regarding decision-making and management of the project. If the farmers are partners on the project and will assist with decision-making and project management, each farm business named as a partner must submit a letter of support.
Collaborators are not required to submit letters of support unless there aren’t any socially disadvantaged and emerging farmers included as project partners. If that is the case, then you must include one letter of support from a socially disadvantaged and emerging farmer who you are intending to source food from as a part of the project. An example of a collaborator would be a farmer who is supplying food for a project but not involved in decision-making or project management.
In addition, if you are planning to source more than $10,000 of product from any one farm, that farm would have to submit a letter of support.
If there are questions about if/how the “socially disadvantaged” and “emerging farmer” terms apply to farmers you intend to work with, farmers should be given an opportunity to self-identify. If that is not possible as a part of the application process, lead applicants may provide reasonable estimates in the “Outcomes” section of the application (e.g. when identifying the % of all food purchasing funds that will be directed towards farm businesses that identify as socially disadvantaged and emerging). Awardees will be asked to provide farmers an opportunity to self-identify and provide voluntary demographic data as part of the reporting process.
If there are questions about if/how the “socially disadvantaged” and “emerging farmer” terms apply to farmers you intend to work with, farmers should be given an opportunity to self-identify. If that is not possible as a part of the application process, lead applicants may provide reasonable estimates in the “Outcomes” section of the application (e.g. when identifying the % of all food purchasing funds that will be directed towards farm businesses that identify as socially disadvantaged and emerging). Awardees will be asked to provide farmers an opportunity to self-identify and provide voluntary demographic data as part of the reporting process.
It is free to get a Unique Entity ID (UEI) through SAM.gov website. It appears that certain companies have created businesses that charge a fee and claim to help you manage SAM.gov services. SAM.gov does not charge a fee and offers two services: 1) UEIs and 2) entity registrations. You do not need to get an entity registration. You only need to get a UEI, as a UEI is required to receive a subaward of federal funds. An instructional video on how to get a UEI is available if needed.
You must go through the process to get a UEI if you intend to apply for the MN LFPA program. If you submit the information needed to receive a UEI but experience delays receiving your 12-digit UEI, please let us know at that point.
It is free to get a Unique Entity ID (UEI) through SAM.gov website. It appears that certain companies have created businesses that charge a fee and claim to help you manage SAM.gov services. SAM.gov does not charge a fee and offers two services: 1) UEIs and 2) entity registrations. You do not need to get an entity registration. You only need to get a UEI, as a UEI is required to receive a subaward of federal funds. An instructional video on how to get a UEI is available if needed.
You must go through the process to get a UEI if you intend to apply for the MN LFPA program. If you submit the information needed to receive a UEI but experience delays receiving your 12-digit UEI, please let us know at that point.
A lead applicant must get a Unique Entity ID from the federal System for Award Management (SAM.gov) and provide this ID as part of their application. An individual is eligible to get a UEI and submit a MN LFPA application on behalf of a community collaboration if desired. Please see additional information about requirements for lead applicants in Question 2 of this Q&A section (Applicant Eligibility).
Groups that are not formally organized may also choose to work in partnership with formally organized groups. Partnerships can include fiscal sponsorship. If you are in need of someone to work with as a lead applicant, or are in search of other potential partnerships or collaborations, one option is to advertise to the public via an online directory form and find potential contacts by viewing the public responses.
A lead applicant must get a Unique Entity ID from the federal System for Award Management (SAM.gov) and provide this ID as part of their application. An individual is eligible to get a UEI and submit a MN LFPA application on behalf of a community collaboration if desired. Please see additional information about requirements for lead applicants in Question 2 of this Q&A section (Applicant Eligibility).
Groups that are not formally organized may also choose to work in partnership with formally organized groups. Partnerships can include fiscal sponsorship. If you are in need of someone to work with as a lead applicant, or are in search of other potential partnerships or collaborations, one option is to advertise to the public via an online directory form and find potential contacts by viewing the public responses.
When providing an example as part of your application to demonstrate previous work sharing power, the example does not have to involve all proposed partners. It can involve the lead applicant or partner(s) as applicable and can be an example from non-food distribution related work. There does not need to be an example provided for each partner.
When providing an example as part of your application to demonstrate previous work sharing power, the example does not have to involve all proposed partners. It can involve the lead applicant or partner(s) as applicable and can be an example from non-food distribution related work. There does not need to be an example provided for each partner.
